Automatic fire-signal system.



PATENTED MARE, 1907. J. G; NOLEN. YSTEM.

R. L. MOELROY, J. E. SHEPHERD &

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL APPLICATION FILED DEO.12, 1 03. RBNEWE D JULY23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

h n i MM. u 1 wru enm M3 1? m Z M B No. 846,336. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1903. RENEWED JULY 23, 1906,

7 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

Zac'fimesdex i WOAHTI, .M zzr /Q @E v finIE'S/reflherd, Z; 5

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. R. L, McELROY,-J. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

AUTOMATIC FERE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12, 1903; RENEWED JULY 28, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907v J. G. NOLEN. YSTEM.

R. L. MHELROY, J. E. SHEPHERD &

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL S APPLIQATION FILED 1326.12, 1903. RENEWE I) JULY23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4 [Viimaaed PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

R. L. MOELROY,-J. E. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN. I

AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12, 1903. RENEWEDJULY 23, 1906.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

"hazy- 1 WWI Tahiti? ALLA/[ 31M John I .Sihefiherd J Qm Q M0221 TTO.846,336. PATENTEID MAR. 5, 1907.

SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

- E. L. MQELROY AUTOMATIC FIRE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1903. RENEWED JULY 23,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6 Robert L ..M I.'1r0

John I Shepher l. 361mm (1' Nolen.

No. 846,386. .PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

L. MGELROY; J. E. SHEPHERD & J. G. NOLEN.

1903. RENEWED JULY 23,1906.

S WAY. m P 8 A m N K mwm m 0 F m w \A A u 3:. L n n 5 .XMN; m 12A mi m av 0 PM ow? W \2 a A n A Q A w A A w WAV is a view similar to Fig. 23,showing the magnetic actuating or trip mechanism for end. of thelatch-lever in two positions. Fig. I

relation of the trip armature and the long end of the latch-lever. ligs. 26 and 27 are i respectively a top. plan view and a longitiuhl nalsection through. the latch-lever,fragmen- J tarily illustrated in thepreceding figures. I Figs. 28 to 35, respectively, are diagram- 1 maticviews illustrating the operation of our system under the variousconditions indi-l cated by the legends written below the respectivefigures. 1

Throughout the drawings like numerals of reference refer always to'likeparts. i

Referring now to the diagrammatic views, it will be seen that oiinsystemcontemplates'l the provision of a normally closed main or I primarycircuit A, (shown in heavy'linesJ energized by central-station batteries(J B and including at the central station suitable signal-responsiveinstrumentalities K and K and a subcircuit B, local to the protectedarea or fire risk, in parallel to a local por tion of the main circuit,said subcircuit being itself divided into two parallel legs or.branches, between which are connected the thermostats.

The two parallel branches of the local subcircuit B are respectivelydesignated as B" and BY and for purposes of distinction will be termedthe red and white sides, respec tively, of the subcircuit.

In the portion of the main circuit local to the risk or protected areais arranged an electromagnetic device 0, controlling an alarmsignal-boX, while in the subeircuit'is arranged a normally balanceddifferential electromagnet 1), whose balancin -coils form part of theparallel branches of said subcircuit and which controls the troublecall-box.

A suitable mechanical construction and arrangement of magnet and boxdevices forcarrying out our invention is fully illustrated in li igs. 3to .6, and these devices will now be described. 3 7 3 Themechanismsillustrated ini igs. 4 to 6 are also shown in'l ig; 8 inconjunction with supplementary mechanism for accomplishing a result notattained by the simpler mechanism, and we will first describe thosedevices common toboth embodiments of our invention.

' Reterring now to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and. 6, 1 indieates a backboardwhereon are mounted two springimpelled .calhboxes or signaldevices2end'3 of a well-known type, electroe said boxes, and suitablecircuit-terminals. The box 2 is provided with a spring-actuated train ofgearing and includes a winding-stem 2 carrying a stop-screw 2, anumberwheel arbor 2 projeeting'above the front face of the'box, and atriparni-c'ar ying-arbor 2, projecting from its rear The gearingpletestwo revolutions to one of the arbors 2 and 2, the movement of arbor 2"being limited to one revolution of the stop-screw 2, which is arrangedto strike some fixed portion of the box-frame after substantiallycompleting a revolution. Similar mechanism is-provided in the l)OX 3,like parts to those in box 2 being indicated by. numeral 3 with thecorresponding exponent letter.

Referring again to box 2, 2 is a number wheel carried'by arbor 2*,having upon its periphery the number of teeth peculiar to thestationsa'y live. Associated with said wheel are a spring-pen 5 and itsstationary pring-con tact 6,norm ally arranged in contact and adapted tobe separated by the passage of the teeth of the wheel 2 beneath the pen5. The mechanism thus described constitutes the "trouble-box, as we willhereinafter arbitrarily term it, the operation of which is controlled bytheelectromagnet D, through trip mechanisms arranged as follows: dindicates the magnetically-responsive armature oi the electromagnet,provided with an arm d, projecting toward the trouble-born .2 indicatesa latch-arm centrally securedto the arbor 2 of the trouble-box andprovided at its-opposite extremities with upturned lips 2 whosehorizontal paths of rotation intersect fthevertieal are of movement ofthe arm d of the magnet-armature. The parts are so constructed that whenthe armature d is held away from the magnet-poles by the tension of thearmature-spring it lies in'the path of the latch-arm 2 as bestillustrated in Fig. 16, while when attracted by the magnet D its arm dis removed from the path of the latch-arm 2 as shown in Fig. 17.

ICC.

Thebox 3, whichwe will hereinafter desig- I nate the fire-alarm box,(although under some conditions it acts to transmit troublesignals) isprovided with two circuit-breaking wheels mounted'on thecormnon arbor 3One- 0f said wheels 3 is toothed, with, say, three groups of five (thebox-number) teeth each upon its periphery. This is the true fire-signalwheel. The second wheel 3 occupies a constant position relative to thewheel 3 and is provided with a peripheral portion of even height withthe teeth of the wheel 3 and of slightly-greater peripheral extent thanthe toothed portion of the said wheel 3*, followed.(in the direction ofits operative rotation) by a group of teethsay titute an identifyingsignali1veto cons transmitter. Associated 1n the usual man-- her forcoaction with the wheel 3 are the with spring-pen 7 and its contact 8,While assoarranged the ese pen-springs are normally in contact tl1(]IT(spective contact-sprlngs.

'Ihe lire-alarm box 3 1S arrangcd for control by the electromagnet C;but its coaction train is so arranged that the arbor 2* cornwith thetripmcehanism thereof is peculiar.

elated in like manner with the wheel 3 are its ciii "no-1, c projects inadi ('3 latch-lever carried by the :1. cc: of the fire-alarm box- 3 ii ahorizontal plane at a n rinedia'l' e the ends of arms c and shorter rad.to engegc theend c of the inagnet-armatnre when th la ttcr is in open'posi tion' and to pass he nth the same when the] armature is closed, ashost iilustrated in Figs. 20 and 2:1.

.The opposite longer end the latchdever 3 tin. st

as a simple means balancing no is" long enough to r'eachthefinthc'armatnrelis adapted to pass r (1 when the armature is in open ito he engaged thereby whcn'the closed best illustrated in Figs. it willtherefore an ear that in s movement tie armature oted to interrupt thepassage 'o'f-one lie iatchdeverz3 and to'pcrmitsage of the otl'ierend oithesaid lei er. ll tho ho sset with it's levees-tod- .th finger c ofarmature c, -,.2o.' 3, l-er, 15,. in; arr-11 17 represent hindlnw cstsfor electric wiring mounted he hackho in" anis' described are" shown).insimb i a e thejcircnit conned-- enumerated. which h embodiments of our111-- ry 'J the main-line i ced'throngh wireiS, inegister K; to thebinding-post wire it to the tronhle hox pen .ct ('3, thence by wire 20to the electromr ;net C, returning the alarin-hox contactspring thenceby wire to hindingid oy line-wire through register to the cen 'alhattery i) This the prim r circuit A. I u now to the ti ier rnostat-sr hcircuit l he seen. the; the pen 7 is tied by a I to the pen 9, l thopeircontact 8 led a w with coil 25 :rrornagnet C, which coil 'is wound:1 Monfopposite tothat oi? the coil 20 he electro- U when both the primc'ircnitand are one i. rrorn the coil a wireflo extends o thcjunctnre ofthe in e and Bf, respectively, of the thermostatcircuit.

To trace first the redhranch B of the thermostat-circuit, 27 indicates aconnection from wire 26 to a coil 27 f the e'lectromagnet connected withthe wire of the main circuitA. To trace-now the white side of theparallel, 32 indicates a connection-from wire extends. a wire 35,connected to resistance lt whose opposite end is connected to the wire20 of the primary circuit A. v

I The electromagnets in the circuits described are so wound and adjustedthat under normal conditions the magnetizing eli'cct of the currentflowing through the coil '20 of the magnet G is so nearly neu tralizedhythe current flowing through the coil of the parallel suhcircuit B thatthe armature c is not attracted, while the two branches B and B? of thesuboircuit 11 are exactly balanced as to resistance and as to magnetice'liect on the magnet D. Consequentlyit will be apparent that undernorincl conditions neither of the elcctromagnets is magnetically active,but that any variance of the resistance in any circuit or suhclrcultwill obviously effect the balance of one or the other of the magnets.

'26 to a coil 32 of the electromagnet D,"

red andwhite sides or parallel branches B? Referring now to therefinement particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, E indicates anelectromagnet, the coil 22 whereof is in cluded in the wire 22 of themain circuit to be normally energized by the main-line current. e is thearmature of magnet E, nor mally attracted by said magnet and held awayciated with the hell-crank arm cof the armature oi the magnet E are fourin number, ar ranged in pairs, and indicates from top to. hottom bythcnninerals 35 3.5 and 83 and 33.

The spring 33 is somewhat longer than i-ts i'ellows and overlies andmakes constant contact with the arm cf of the armature e.

from its hack contact 40. The springs ass0- tery C B.

wherein are mounted jiolll' flat 33 and 33 make contact. When, however,the magnet E becomes denergized, so that the armature-spring withdrawsthe armature into contact with its rear stop 40, the spring 33 isthereby lifted out of contact with its subjacent fellow and by itsinsulated connection with spring 35 lifts the latter from contact withits coacting spring member 35 Springs 35 and 35 are cut into the whitewire 35 of the thermostat-circuit in series therein, while the springs33 and 33 are similarly. cut in series into the wire 33 of said whiteside of the.thcrmostat-circt;it. It will be noted, therefore, that whenthe ar mature e of the magnet E falls into contact with its baclostop4:0, lifting the springs 33 and 35 out of contact with their normallycoacting fellow springs, the effect is to se regatethe whitethermostat-wire 34, as both .the wires 33 and 35 are broken at thesprings, as described, The purpose of this segrega tion of the singlethermostat-u ire nill be hereinafter made apparent.

I (lcll'ocated upon the backboard 1 with the electromagnet E is acall-boa: 37, similar in general arrangement to the boxes 2 and 3heretofore described, and parts whereof are indicated by numeral 37 withexponentsflilie similar parts of box 2. in d? box mechanism F indicatesan electl'oniagnet. findieates the armature thereof, adapted whenattracted to trip the springnctuated train of the box37s. i

37 indicates the toothed number-wlieel having upon its periphery, say,three groups of five teeth each.

38 indicates the pen assotiated with said wheel, and 39 the pen-contactspring. These parts are electrically connected as follows: From the backcontact 40 of the armature e of the main-circuit magnet E extends a wire40, connected to the core 40 of magnet F. The other terminal of coil 40"is connected by Wire 41 with the pen 33, the contact 39 whereof isconnected by wire 42 to the binding-pos 17 upon the board. From saidbihdingost 17 extends wire 43, grounded at its other terminal. Tocomplete the subcircuit to be established through tltis groundconnection, as hereinafter described, wire 44 is led from ground tosplit the central bat- W'e will now describe in general the constructionof a thermostat such as is employed in conjuncticn with our system.

Each tl'iermcstat T ccmpri csseiitiall y, a casing t of suitableconfiguration and design, springs 6 i, t, and t arranged in pairs, thesprings-cl each pair being arranged end to end and the pairs arranged inparallelism. I isa rod vertically arranged to pass beneath the pens r la l of springs at the print cf stmarcfthn of the springs of each pairand bearing a suitable weight t7. t" is a piece of insulation circuit)th the binding-post 1c, and thence back to the rod and having disposedon opposite ends thereof in pesiiion of registration with the openingsbetween the pairs ol companion-springs metallic conducting-pieces ofwedge shape t and t Mounted on the upper extremity of the rod inparallelism to the part last described is an inverted-wedge shaped.member of conductive material t, adapted to bridge across both pairs ofsprings. The springs t F, constituting one pair, are connected in seriesin one wire 34 of the thermostat-loop, and the pair t t are connected inthe other wire 30. Under normal conditions the rod t is secured withfusible n1atcrial, su ch as solder or the like, in the position shown inFig. 8, with the insulationmelted the. weight it will cause the rod 1-to drop, first removing the conductors t and i from contact with thepairs cfsprings to simultaneously break both sides of thethermostat-subcircuit extending therethrough and subsequently (almostinstantaneously) bridging the gap with the conducting-bar t to close thecircuit through both of said pairs of springs and constitute across'between the thermostat-wires.

, it will be apparent that the conditions just described are such as arehardly of possible occurrence from any natural cause, and as the operbreaking both of the thermostat-wires and subsequently crossing them isessential to the sending of a true tire-signal the transmission of afalse fire-alarm through some ordinary cause, such as the derangement ofa circuit or the brealaing of a wire, is practically renderedimpossible.

Haring thus described the physical em Liens just described ofsimultaneously bor'iments of our invenii .n, we will now do 28 (whichshows a normal condition of the at current from central battery C Bflowing through n ire-23 to bindingmat 1 5 finds a closed circuitthrough .the a ire 22, (and coil 22 oli'thc magnet 15,) the pen andcontact 9 and 10 of they alarmb ox, thence througl-r the coil 20", Wire20, pedandcon tact 6 and 5 of the troublc-.box, nire' 19'to by ire l8tothe central battery C 13. fThe circuit I just traced constitutes theprimary or main secured 1 circuit A. Under normal conditions the.

energized, liolrlin its urine-ti c I net 0.

coil 252211031 ire 26', who

' coil 32, Wire 33, (inducing t we said magnet,

v. nnbolnncing the n'izignet indicated-in Figf' il,--Sneh comiiiion proto the better by ground-Wire e41.

parellei subeireuit B isielso clo. both branches and maybe 22 by wireilthrough the pen and 8 ofthe'olorrn-bor: to ii lo of equal resistanceihreu o. Br dBw' TL? 1 a) ry ,L i 7 v u u soon time In is L-iunu 27,001i 27 resisl" 'therrnostiitwnfe 3U, main-line Wire L White branchciose 33? en'fi 3 3 White tlif: wire fi {infiuiding the 5 and 35resis'twi the lnein-iine wire U1 ions it Wlii he noted that the moo.

out of cononrl permitting springs to occupy tact with the one stop 40the group of nssociutet their normzii closed nositions. The i is C andD, it 1 3e 'einemhcrcil, he; entinlly wound and both oi the pores 0through the windings oi czrchhcir ere in non-no or inactive con Theactions ioliowing the ii iii 1 against which system prorid 'W'ili he asfollows:

Break in the white wire 3!},- es xiii/coir? Fig. 29.- "his breaking ofthe suhcircoi rl stops the flow of current through the coii endnnbslenees the magnet D, the entire current of the subeireuit {ionsthrough the branch B" thereof, inolndin the coil 24 or in consequencethe cr neture d of the magnet i) is attracted and heir} by the magnet,releasing the latch-arm 2 of the troubieJoox 2, as indicated in Fig. 37.consequence the no. [1ll)8I Wl18l0'f the troublebox makes two completerevolutions, in each revolution breaking the main circuit A five timesat its pen anti 'conizct and ii and. transmitting hire nnnuises to thecentrnh ii ill be noted that no current current-flow in the windingz-gnet unbelzinces the magnet armature, thereby releasing.

uni to central, es heretofore deirough sulieircuit branch B by wire 33to he crossyrire or juniper (avoiding the resistance l) and heel: to themain line by subit brunchBPthroughthe Wire 31, (avoidrcsis'ience it?)The result isobviously a trouble-signiii, heretofore described, the inngnet liming rocticellyunafiected. It will oterl iliet none of thesetroubles heretofore edverterl to causes the magnet C to attrsict itsarmature and trip the alarm-box.

A break in both the thermostat-wires, as indicated in Fig. 83.--Sucl1 adouble break in the thermosmt wires outs oif entirely thetherniostzit-snbcircuit and causes the entire it C, attracting thearmature c and holdu in consequence the latch-lever 3 of ne-eierni our.is released, permitting the i mike e half-revolution until its longstrikes the "J r c, e'arfled by the are, as indicated in Fig. 24. Duringthis l-revolotion or" the lever the w heels 3 and make a fullrevolution.

en 9 onto contact with its contect- 11g 8 during the entire time of thepassage he nurnheroiheel 3 under its pen 7. It

Of f

"to e pen 7 under the conditions named, assaid pen is included in thethermostat-circuit and no current is at present passing therethrough.The current being interrupted at the pens?) Lind 10 during the oi theperipheral to cause a trensniission of a, 7O

3," --Sueh condition 1111- lameness the magnet as e'pathis afiorded ntto flow through the Winding 20 of the The wheel 3 flows through earn ofthe wheel 3, a single long (lash is re corrlcl by the registeringnleclninisni 8,1} central Stiiilllll, lhereliyindicatingexactly thenastation releasing mechanism, as will iie'a'reli ture of the trouble,said dushys'gnel being. understood. Under these conditions no iollm'nlby the proper lmX-nui'nber signal operative effect is proilnceal uponthe nning and musing the ierl.

seine operetion as that lost rie;

A ground mum the rinccs the some results 1L3 the brooks shoveimnsinittcil hon-Jet i men J.

i u L u n truejzrcnZnm n signal, caused by the {using of (Lthermostut.;--As horelzolore descri ed, the first action oi thethermostat when ltS as the teeth of snirl wheel 3 passes in "olenmtcriol is melted is to break-both wires of the thermostot-circuit,thereby msin lire nipping of the alarm-box 3 in- 1451' lust abovedescribed. Instantly however, the circuit through the ruires is closedby the thermostat and n cross between said wires is xii i cil. nieinlinc circuit 1 Ii. it wili no noteil theta circuit is turbo but :2prepo'niierzitir 'il'ml through the thermostat-sub current of thethermostot-onei is 2Ll OV0 described with roierenceto. a course asiioiioWs: through t Z and the rnogneti/isaccordingly egain wire 32, coil32, and White Wire K thermostat-circuit to the ground,

iiihcliy restoring the finger 0 carried by nature, to such position thatthe end 3 so that its spring retracts its armu- 1 of the alarm-boxlatch-lever 3 ma pass thereby, as illustrated in. Fig. 23. t will alsobe noted that the current now flows through thepells? and 8 in thesubcircuit B.

The trouble-and alarm boxes 2 and 3, respectively, are preferably sotimed that they do not operate upon their pens simultaneously. So,assuming that the trouble box is timed to operate first, the followingresults ensue from the conditions just described.

The main circuit is first broken at the gen eel and contact-5 and; 6 bythe trouble-W 2 sending a round of five to the central station, which isimmediately followed by a signal from the alar'irnbox; Under the presentconditions it will be seen that when the pen 9 is lifted by thecam-wheel 3 the main circuit is thereby broken and the entire currentcaused to flow through the thermostat-circuit, and consequently throughthe pen 7 and con tact 8 in said circuit. As these contacts are brokenby the number-wheel 3" the true firealarm signal (three rounds of five)is sent in, followed by another round of five from the Wheel 3. Both ofthe wheels being then ready for a second revolution, the foregoingsignal is re eated, thus completing a signal I Which can e in no wayconfused with any trouble-signal capable of being sent by the boxes, Itwill be understood however, that the receipt of thepredeterminedfire-signal (three rounds of five) under any conditions isassumed to indicate a fire even though the full signal above describedis not comolete, as the wheel 3 acts to send its signal on y when fireconditions (double breakfollowed by a cross in thethermostat-subcircuit) have oc curred.

It will be noted that under any condition of trouble heretoforementioned the subsequent occurrence of a fire will result in the propertransmission of a true fire-alarm that is to say, at least the singleoperative revolution of the fire-alarm wheel 3.

To refer again to Figs 29 to 33, in each of which figures an operatingthermostat is in cluded in dotted lines, it will be seen that under theconditions shown in either-Figs. 29 or 30 that is to say, the conditionof a break in either of the thermostat-wires the subseuent fusing 9f athermostat, as indicated in t e dotted lines, will first cause completeseverance of the subcircuit B (thereby tripping the alarm-box 3) and thesubsequent reestablishment of the path through the subcircuit left bythe unbroken therinostat-wire. It follows, therefore that thealarm-magnet C will be first unbalanced, when all of the current of themain-lire circuit flows through the coil 20 thereof and subsequentlybal- 'anccd again by the completion of the thermostat-subcircuit,including its coil 25". Further, it will be seen that under this lastnamed condition the circuit'through the pen and contact 7 and 8 iscompleted, enabling senses current of the thermostat-circuit to flowthrough the resistance R across the jumper or cross and back to the linethrough the resistance lt, thereby including said resistances in seriesand more than doubling the total resistance of the. subcircuit. Thiscauses 1 a preponderating flow of current through the main-line coil ofthe magnet C,

su llicient to attract its armature, tripping the alarm-box so that itmakes one round and causing the transn'iission to central of a truealarm-signal in the manner heretofore described. in the event that breakin both wires has occurred, as indicated in Fig. 33, it will be recalledthe lire-alarm box will have been tripped by the magnet C, but will havemade but a single revolution, as the armature c of magnet (l is held inattracted position. The box is accordingly now in ,"condition to make asecond revolution of its numberwheels in the event of the restoration ofthe armature of the said magnet to 0 en posinon. ii now a thermostat isfuse asmdzcated in. dotted lines in Fig. 33, the breaking of boththermostat-w1res by the thermostat produces no client, (as a doublebreak 18 already present) but the subsequent cross upon the linesestablishes a circuit through the thcrmostat-wires as follows: throughthe wires 32, 33, and 34 of the white side of the subcircuit across thethermostat-cross and back by wires 30 and 11 to the. main line. Thiscloses the circuit through the coil 25 of the magnet C, balancing thesaid magnet so that the spring may restore its armature c toopenposition. Thereby the latehdever 3 of alarm-box 3 is again released,as indicated in Fig. 23, so that the wheels 3. and 3 may make theirsecond round. that the wheel 3 breaks the main-liue eir cult, causingallot the current to How through the subcircuit B while the teeth ofwheel are passii'ig its pen 9, so that a true alarm of three rounds oflive-is sent in by the wheel 3.

The mechanism shown in Figs, 1 and 3 and not found in the simplifiedcircuit of Fig. 2 is provided to the end thatshould a break of anoutside main-line wire or a cross on said wires occur, or a jumper beplaced across the terminals of the outside wires, or should all ol thesetroubles occur the system is not incapacitated to send in a fire-alarmsignal in the event of the fusing of a thermostat in the protected area.it will be noted that under any of the conditions specified all currentis cut oil from the local portion both main and sub circuits.Consequcntly the signaling devices in the said circuits incapable itwill be noted I his break produces no e'fi'ect; but thesubsethermostatic devices in said subcircuit i eeacac of transmittingany signals to, the central 1 ener lze the main circuit, a stat on. Itwrli be noted, however, that the --=two oranchesin paraiiei o cuttingout of the local portion of the main circuit deenergizes the magnet E,which per-- mits the armature e to be retracted by the spring intocontact with the back contactstop 40, which has a connection to groundthrough the magnet F and pens 3-8 and 39 of the auxiliary boX 37. Thebell-crank arm of the armature 6 during this operation liftsthe spring33, thereby, .asheretofore described, isolating the thermotsatavire 34and con necting it tog-round through the path above described. Shouldnow a thermostat he come fused in a thermostat-circuit, the douquentcross of the thermostat-Wires gives a path from the ground through wiree3, binding-post 17, wire 42, pen and contact 39 38, wire 4] magnet-coil40 wire e0, contact 40 arrn'at'ure e to spring 33 thence by wire 33 tothe cross occurring at the thermostat, thence by wires 30 and 31 to themain line 20, and thence by Wires 19 and 16 to the central battery,through which it passes to ground by wire 44. The establishment of thecircuit just described energizes the magnet F, pulling its armature fand tripping the auxiliary signal box 37, the numbenwheel of whichtransmits through pen 38 its arbitrary signal for instance, the true"fire-signal oi three fives. While We have herein fully described 'tion,and therefore j What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. In a firesignal system, a main circuit including a signal'responsiveinstrument, source of supply of electric energy for said circuit, asubcircuit having two branches in parallel to the main circuit, asignal-transmitting device in one of said circuits, an, 'elertroinagnetic actuating device for said signal device arranged in aportionof' the main circuit paralleled by the subcircuit, said actuatingdevice being adapted to become opera- I two on the rupture of thesubcircuit, and.

ranged and adapted to simultaneously rupture both branches thereof.

2. In a fire-signal system, a main circuit including a centralsignal-responsive instrument, a source of current-supply arranged tospecific embodiments of our invention which will @lllliiiiil a signalingdevice in one of said oirc' electromagnetic actuating nice having itsmagnet in the pcriio circuit paralleled by sivnaiing device arranged inone a cults, an BlECt-EGillt oetic ectuat therefor having a rlrfhn'enet, oi the coils wi each branch of the suhr. rcu" static devicesconuuon to bot-iii. said subcircuit. In a fi naling device arrangecircuit and. having a co l. of its 12 ranged in said circuit, suhcir'iuit in FL around'said c ii inciudin said e-lectroin agnet, diiiicrerespect to the if iii subci u two paraiicl branch 5, a i, vice arrangedin one of s ferentialiyavound eieotro devicefor said second coilswhereof are *i' branches of tlic devicessdapted to or tiou inbo'thbranches of the.

taneously. 5

i. In a fire-sign system, a niai': 'circ.

including a sign ai nsive device of current-Supp circuit'having L 0 maincircuit. si, ice

thermostats in said subcircuit ln'anches.

adapted to cross said branches, means-for breaking a subcireuit branchto isolate a 'sec-,

tion of said branch from electrical connec: 'tion with the other, anelectromagnet in the portion of the main circuit paralleled by thesubcircuit adapted when energized to maintain said circuit-breal er ininoperative position, a grounded subeircuit adapted to be connected tothe isolated section of the thermostat-subcircuit by the action of thecircuitbreaker, and a signaling device -and operating means thereforoperatively associated with said grounded suhcircuit.

7. In a signal system, two circuits having portions oppositely disposedso that current may flow theretlu'ough in opposite directions, a commonsource of supply for said circuits, a means for establishing a crossbetween the oppositely-disposed portions of said circuits, and signalinginstrumentilities associated with said circuits and arranged to beactuated on the occurrence of a cross between such circuits.

8. In a signal system, a source of current; supply, two circuitsderiving current from said source of supply and having. proximateportions wherein the circuit flows in opposite directions, said circuitshaving definite relative resistances and the resistances being sodisposed that the relation is not preserved in the correspondingportions of the two cir cuits lying between their proximate portions andthe negative terminal of the source of su ply, a signaling; apparatusresponsive to reliitive variations of current-flow in said two circuits,and means for establishing a cross between the circuits in the proximateportions thereof.

9. In a fire-signal systeni, a'niain circuit, a subcircuit hav ng twobranches in parallel to a portion of the main circuit, signalinginstrumentalities comprising two circuit-interrupters arranged forsuccessive operation, one located in the subcircuit and one in the maincircuit, electromagnetic actuating; devices arranged and adapted toactuate the circuit-breal ers upon an abnormal decrease of current-ilowin the subcircuit, and a thermostat arranged and adaptezil when fused tobreak both subcircuit branches and then reest'a'blish a circuit. v

10. In a fire-signal system, a main circuit, a subcircuit having twobranches in parallel to the main circuit, a signaling instrumentzllty inthe main circuit,actuati ng device therefor responsive to abnormaldecrease in current-flow through the subcireuit, another signalinginstrumentality in one of the circuits, an actuating-device thereforresponcurrentpath through the subsive to relative variations inchrrent-flow with circuits to be supervised comprising two wires, ofsignahtransmitting means for indicating a variation in the relativecurrent-flow through said two wires, another signal-transmitting meansfor indicating a cessation of currentdlow in both of said wires,signal-responsive devices and suitable circuit connections betweensignal-transmitting means and f the signal responsive devices.

13. In a fire-alarm system, a main circuita subcircuit', anelectromagnetic signaling apparatus comprising van. actuating-magnetresponsive to rupture of the subclrcuit, and

a normally set signal device associated with the magnet to beactuated'thereby Wire 1 the subcircuit 1S ruptured. and I again actuatedwhen the subcircuit is reestablished, said signal device comprising twosets of signalingpens, one in the subcircuit and one in the maincircuit, signal-responsive devices inthe main circuit, a battery in saidmain circuit, and a thermostat in the 'subcircuit adapted when fused tofirst rupture said subcircuit and then reestablish it. i

in testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT L. MCELRQY. JOHN E. SHEPHERD. JAMES G. NOLEN. In presence of-For: its RAIN,

MAR F, ALLEN.

